January 20, 2006	Friday	Zilhaj 19, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: A full court meeting of the Supreme Court on Thursday decided to celebrate its Golden Jubilee this year in a simple and austere manner. Presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and attended by all the judges of the court, the full court meeting decided to hold conference and seminars on the theme “Justice for All,” to mark the event, befitting dignity of the apex court.

The Supreme Court is completing 50 years of its existence in March, 2006. A committee comprising judges has also been constituted to commemorate the golden jubilee of the court.

The full court also decided to impose costs on litigant parties who file false or frivolous cases and waste precious time of the court. Similarly to discourage the trend of adjournments, compensatory cost will also be imposed on parties seeking unnecessary adjournments.

Frequent adjournments are a bane for judicial system of Pakistan and a principle cause for delay. When it comes to regular judicial proceedings, there should not be endless adjournments, the meeting observed and said strict limits for grant of adjournments should be laid down. Adjournment be granted as an exception and not as a rule, the court said.

Backlog: As on January 1, 2006, pendency in the Supreme Court stands at 21,797 cases, the full court was told, which reiterated its commitment to continue to decide cases expeditiously with zeal.

On average, disposal has been double than institution, meaning backlog is reduced. During the last six months i.e. from July 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005 a total of 6,535 cases were instituted in the Supreme Court as against the total disposal of 10,688 cases by the court.

Free Legal Aid: Following an exercise to obtain data about pending cases prisoners, a Special Bench has been constituted at Islamabad, both for Shariat Petitions/Appeals and Jail Petitions/Appeals. Arrangements have been made to provide legal aid to the un-represented jail petitioners.

The Bar is fully cooperating with the court by providing voluntarily legal assistance to the poor and vulnerable sections of society, who cannot afford to hire the services of a lawyer.

Strategy for Quick Disposal of Cases: The meeting was told that all civil cases have been categorized into 71 main categories and 282 sub-categories, criminal cases 37 main and 70 sub-categories, civil shariat cases 20 categories and criminal shariat cases 12 main and 25 sub-categories. Since November 2005, all newly instituted cases/petitions are being filed in accordance with this list, facilitating the court in knowing, at a glance, the number of cases pending in a particular category. It has further facilitated in preparation of cause list as well as in preparation of list of cases of urgent nature.

Appointment of Research Associates: To facilitate the court in carrying out research on constitutional and other legal issues, three additional posts of research officers (BPS-18), has been created and duly advertised to induct capable/qualified persons on merit. Two research officers have since joined and posted with Bench No I and Bench No II.

Reformation of Court Staff: To control and ultimately eliminate corruption in the establishment, some administrative changes have been made. The administrative staff — LDCs, stenotypists, stenographers are subjected to monthly tests of typing/shorthand with a view to improving their skill. The senior officers like grade-17 and above are undergoing a training for ISO certification.

The training is being conducted by the Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre, Islamabad (PASTIC).

Enhancement in Legal Fee: The meeting also considered joint application of the advocates requesting for appropriate enhancement in the legal fee, while appearing before the court on notice.

The meeting approved an amendment in the rules to enhance the legal fee of such lawyers from Rs1,000 per case to Rs3,000.

The full court agreed to continue to work through vacations, on account of pendency in the court and to further reduce the backlog of cases.

It was, therefore, decided that benches will be constituted to work at the Principal Seat and Branch Registries after June 30, 2006.